Gender-dependent associations between occupational status and untreated caries in Japanese adults

Self-perception of oral health, gender and employment among Brazilian population

BACKGROUND

Self-perception of oral health is a recognized indicator, based on a single question. Association among oral health and socioeconomic status has been well established, however in Brazil, no results were found on the relation with type of insertion in labor market.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of negative self-perception of oral health and associated factors, according to gender among Brazilian workers population, in 2019.

METHODS

The National Health Survey, nationwide household-based survey, carried out in 2019, was used as source of data. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated to understand the distribution of variables of interest and characterize the sample (n = 54,343). Binary logistic regression was used in the analyses. Odds ratio (OR) was estimated using a 95% confidence interval in bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The prevalence of negative self-perception of oral health was 29.3%; in that, 31.0% among men and 27.2% among women. Compared to formal employees, the chance of negative self-perception of oral health among the informal workers was almost 20% higher among men and 13% among women after adjusting for all confounding factors. Unemployed women were 33% more likely to have negative self-perception of oral health.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported unemployment increased the chance of a negative self-perception of oral health among women; however, the same effect was not observed among men. Why is there a difference? The association between informal work and negative SEOH is relevant in the Brazilian context of work deregulation and growth in the number of people without access to formal employment. The results suggested addressing employment conditions in adult oral health promotion actions, with emphasis on gender differences.

Simplifying Oral health evaluation: a novel approach through single-item surveys

BACKGROUND

This study adopts a novel approach of using single-item surveys to simplify the assessment of oral health status and behaviors among Japanese private sector employees. We aimed to establish the validity of self-reported oral health in relation to clinical dental examinations, and to elucidate the relationship between oral diseases, health behaviors, and self-assessments. A secondary aim was to explore the association of self-rated oral health with oral health behaviors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Self-administered questionnaires and dental examinations were obtained from 2262 Japanese private sector employees. Workers self-rated their overall oral health status according to five choices: "very good," "good," "fair," "poor," or "bad." Self-reports were then compared with the results of clinical dental examinations, which included measuring the oral hygiene index (DI-S), the number of decayed teeth, periodontal status (Community Periodontal Index) and number of missing teeth. Convergent validity was also tested by examining the correlations of self-reported oral health status with oral health behaviors.

RESULTS

Overall, 30.8% of workers reported their oral health as "poor" or "bad." "Poor" or "bad" oral health status was significantly correlated with missing teeth, periodontitis, and decayed teeth. However, lower correlations were found for gingivitis and the oral hygiene index. Most self-reported oral health behaviors were correlated with self-rated oral health; exceptions were "tooth brushing instructions received in a dental clinic," "having a primary-care dentist," and "habitual snacking between meals."

CONCLUSIONS

Self-rated oral health provides reasonably valid data, and correlated well with clinically assessed oral health status, including dental caries, periodontal status, and tooth loss. Convergent validity was also found for oral health behaviors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000023011 (UMIN-CTR). Date of clinical trial registration: 06/07/2016.

Occupational Difference in Oral Health Status and Behaviors in Japanese Workers: A Literature Review

The occupational environment is an important factor for oral health because people spend a long time in the workplace throughout their lives and are affected by work-related stress and occupational health policies. This study aimed to review evidence for the association between occupation and oral health status and behaviors. A literature search of PubMed was conducted from February to May 2022, as well as a manual search analyzing the article origins. Articles were screened and considered eligible if they met the following criteria: (1) published in English; (2) epidemiological studies on humans; and (3) examined the association between occupation and oral health status and behaviors. All 23 articles identified met the eligibility criteria. After full-text assessments, ten articles from Japan were included in this review: four on the association between occupation and dental caries, three on occupation and periodontal disease, two on occupation and tooth loss, and one on occupation and oral health behaviors. An association was apparent between occupation, oral health status and behaviors among Japanese workers. In particular, skilled workers, salespersons, and drivers who work longer hours and often on nightshifts, tended to have poor oral health.

Tooth- and Patient-Related Conditions May Influence Root Canal Treatment Indication

Aim

To investigate predisposing aspects related to the indication for root canal treatment (RCT) at Dental Schools of Brazil.

Methods

Data of 207 patients referred to endodontic treatment at undergraduate Dental Schools of Brazil were collected over a period of 8 months. Patient-related data included age, gender, first dental visit, tooth brushing frequency, number of remaining teeth, and previous endodontic treatment, and tooth-related information regarding number, type, and location in the mouth of teeth that need RCT, waiting time for the endodontic treatment, endodontic diagnosis, pain report, and dental crown condition was collected for each participant. Bivariate analysis (Chi-square test; p < 0.05) associated gender and tooth/patient-related conditions. Poisson regression analysis compared multiple endodontic need and exposure variables.

Results

Patients were mainly comprised of women (65.2%), aged 18-39 years (69.6%). Previous RCT was significantly more prevalent in women when compared to men (p=0.005). First dental visit at later moment (after 20 years of age) demonstrated 400% greater prevalence of multiple RCT demand when compared to patients that attended the dental office at age below seven years (p=0.032). Most of the patients presented only one tooth needing RCT (80.2%), mainly premolars (44.9%). Interestingly, women underwent more RCT in maxillary teeth (p=0.016) and significantly contributed with their report to the diagnosis process when compared to men (p=0.014). Regarding dental crown condition, 45.4% of all teeth registered unsatisfactory restorations, which were more pronounced in female patients (p=0.018). Unsatisfactory restorations or dental caries had 75% and 82%, respectively, less prevalence of multiple RCT indication when compared to sound dental crown (p=0.001).

Conclusions

RCT was undertaken more frequently in young female adults' premolars presenting unsatisfactory restorations. First dental visit, number of teeth with previous endodontic treatment, tooth group, and dental crown condition were significantly associated with the necessity of multiple endodontic treatments.

Factors Associated with Untreated Decayed Teeth in Male Sales Workers: An Internet Survey

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with untreated decayed teeth (DT) in male sales workers. The participants were recruited by screening a pool of Japanese registrants in an online database for eligibility for inclusion in the study. Between 20 February 2015 and 11 March 2015, those deemed eligible were asked to complete a questionnaire on the status of their oral health. Responses from a total of 142 male sales workers aged between 30 and 49 years were analyzed. Of these, 40 reported DT and 102 no untreated decayed teeth (NDT). The percentage of participants with DT was higher than that with NDT among night shift workers (p<0.001). A higher percentage of participants with DT reported pain when eating or drinking something cold (p=0.041), pain in the teeth or gingiva (p<0.001), or frequent stomatitis (p=0.030). A higher percentage of participants with DT reported eating between meals (p=0.027) and a lower percentage visiting a dental clinic in the past 6 months (p=0.017) compared with among participants with NDT. Those with NDT were more likely to report an inability to visit a dental clinic when they wanted to (p=0.033), but those with DT were more likely to report that their reasons for not visiting a dental clinic were that multiple visits were required for treatment (p=0.012) or that they did not like the treatment (p=0.005). Working the night shift (Odds Ratio [OR], 3.492; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.347-8.725) and visiting a dental clinic in the past 6 months (OR, 0.084; 95%CI, 0.010-0.733) were identified as independent variables correlated with leaving DT untreated. Requiring oral health education and dental checkups at least once every 6 months may have a positive effect on oral health among male sales workers, especially those doing night shifts.